Khamenei, who led the Islamic Republic from 1989 until his death at the age of 86, was killed in an airstrike on February 28 during the opening day of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. His funeral has become one of the largest state ceremonies in the country’s recent history.

Prayers at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla complex were led by Grand Ayatollah Ja’far Sobhani, the 97-year-old Shiite cleric and religious scholar based in the holy city of Qom. The ceremony formed the centerpiece of the second day of national mourning after Khamenei’s body lay in state at the vast religious complex.

Mojtaba Khamenei, the late leader’s son and designated successor, did not appear publicly during the prayers. According to reports, he has not been seen in public since being named supreme leader and is believed to have been injured in the February 28 strike. Khamenei’s other sons—Masoud, Mostafa and Meysam—attended the ceremony.

Iran declared Sunday a public holiday to enable nationwide participation in the funeral events. Authorities said Khamenei’s coffin would later be transferred from the Grand Mosalla in preparation for a public procession through Tehran on Monday.

AFP journalists reported that the religious complex and surrounding streets were filled with mourners carrying Iranian flags and portraits of the late leader. With temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius, volunteers distributed refreshments to people making their way to the venue.

President Masoud Pezeshkian attended the prayers alongside senior officials, including Parliament Speaker and Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, according to state television.

Khamenei’s coffin, draped in the Iranian national flag and topped with his traditional black turban, was placed beside the coffins of four family members who were also killed in the February airstrikes, including an infant granddaughter.

Iranian authorities have said they expect more than 10 million people to participate in the funeral ceremonies taking place in Tehran over several days.

The funeral comes after a five-week conflict between Iran, Israel and the United States that has since paused under a ceasefire and an initial agreement with Washington, although both Tehran and Washington have indicated they remain prepared for renewed hostilities if negotiations fail.

Speaking on Saturday, Pezeshkian described the public turnout as evidence of Khamenei’s standing among Iranians and accused Israel of acting as a destabilizing force in the Middle East. He also said Muslims would not submit to oppression.

Khamenei’s decades-long leadership was defined by confrontation with Western powers and sustained support for regional armed groups aligned with Tehran, including Hamas in the Palestinian territories and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

State media reported that delegations from Hamas and Hezbollah met Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday. Representatives of Yemen’s Houthi movement and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad also attended the funeral ceremonies.

Following Monday’s procession in Tehran, Khamenei’s coffin is scheduled to travel to Qom on Tuesday, then to neighboring Iraq on Wednesday, before burial on Thursday in his hometown of Mashhad in northeastern Iran.

Authorities have deployed extensive security measures throughout the capital and warned mourners of the risks posed by large crowds. Organizers have also introduced heat-mitigation measures, including water misting systems, as temperatures in Tehran are forecast to approach 40 degrees Celsius in the coming days.

According to Iranian state media, envoys from the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah and the Palestinian group Hamas were among foreign delegations participating in ceremonies honoring Khamenei, who was killed on February 28 in a U.S.-Israeli strike that also claimed the lives of several members of his family and senior Iranian officials.

Iran has for years backed Hezbollah, Hamas and Yemen’s Houthi movement as part of a regional network it refers to as the “Axis of Resistance.” The United States and several Western countries designate Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis as terrorist organizations, and Iran’s support for those groups has contributed to longstanding international sanctions against Tehran.

Hezbollah said its delegation was headed by senior official and former Lebanese minister Mohammed Fneish. The group added that the delegation also included officials as well as relatives of members who had been killed or wounded.

Hamas said its delegation was led by Mohammed Darwish, head of the group’s political bureau, and included senior bureau members, among them Bassem Naim.

Representatives of other Iran-aligned groups also attended the ceremonies. Iranian state television reported that Palestinian Islamic Jihad Secretary-General Ziyad Al-Nakhalah and senior Houthi official Dhaif Allah Al-Shami were present in Tehran.

The funeral comes nearly two years after the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas’s then political leader, who died in Tehran in July 2024 in an Israeli operation after attending the inauguration of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Most foreign officials and dignitaries paid their respects on Friday, while public funeral ceremonies continued on Saturday at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla religious complex, where large crowds gathered to honor Khamenei.

Khamenei served as Iran’s supreme leader from 1989 until his death at the age of 86, exercising ultimate authority over the country’s major political, military and strategic decisions throughout his tenure.

The funeral ceremonies have drawn domestic supporters, senior Iranian officials and foreign delegations from groups aligned with Tehran, reflecting Iran’s continued ties with regional allies despite months of heightened conflict across the Middle East.

Pezeshkian’s visit comes a day after senior U.S. and Iranian officials held negotiations in Switzerland, where Vice President JD Vance and Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf launched a 60-day diplomatic process intended to produce a permanent settlement following the recent war involving Iran, the United States and Israel.

The talks have exposed differences over key implementation details. Vance said discussions in Switzerland included an understanding that inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) would be allowed to visit Iranian nuclear facilities. However, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said on Tuesday that no inspections had been scheduled for sites previously damaged in U.S. strikes.

The IAEA has maintained a presence in Iran since the 2025 conflict between Israel and Iran, but inspectors have not been granted access to several enrichment facilities targeted during the hostilities.

Security was heightened across parts of Islamabad as Pezeshkian met Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The visit marks the Iranian leader’s first trip to Pakistan since the conflict that began with U.S. and Israeli military action against Iran on Feb. 28.

Ahead of the meetings, Pezeshkian stressed that progress in the negotiations would depend on all parties fulfilling their commitments.

“The effectiveness of the talks depends on full commitment to the agreed obligations and their precise implementation,” Pezeshkian wrote on the social media platform X. “Progress on this path will be measured by practical adherence to accepted responsibilities.”

Iranian officials said the ongoing technical discussions in Switzerland have established several working groups focused on sanctions relief, nuclear issues, postwar reconstruction and verification mechanisms.

According to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency, Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said negotiators had also created coordination mechanisms related to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and efforts to reduce tensions along the Israel-Lebanon frontier.

One of the key outcomes of the initial negotiations was an agreement to establish a “de-confliction cell” intended to address hostilities between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon. Mediators from Pakistan and Qatar said the mechanism would involve the Lebanese government and seek to uphold the cessation of military operations.

Questions remain, however, about the effectiveness of the arrangement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that Israeli forces would retain full operational freedom to respond to perceived threats, while Hezbollah has maintained that it will not halt attacks permanently unless Israel withdraws from contested areas in southern Lebanon.

Neither Israel nor Hezbollah is a formal participant in the U.S.-Iran negotiating framework, complicating efforts to translate diplomatic understandings into durable security arrangements on the ground.

U.S. President Donald Trump, when asked about Netanyahu’s remarks, said Washington would monitor developments closely and expressed confidence that outstanding issues could be resolved.

A ceasefire in Lebanon brokered over the weekend appeared to be holding on Tuesday, with no immediate reports of renewed strikes by either side.

Lebanese and Israeli officials were expected to hold another round of direct talks in Washington later on Tuesday, with discussions focused on potential arrangements for an Israeli military withdrawal and broader security guarantees along the border.

The negotiations represent one of the most significant diplomatic efforts in the region since the end of the Iran conflict and are being closely watched by governments concerned about nuclear oversight, maritime security and the risk of renewed hostilities across the Middle East.

The trip comes as Iran seeks to reinforce diplomatic engagement with regional partners after the Switzerland discussions, which marked a significant phase in contacts between Tehran and the United States.

According to the IRNA state news agency, one of the principal objectives of Pezeshkian’s visit is to convey Iran’s appreciation to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for Islamabad’s role in facilitating communication between Tehran and Washington.

Habibollah Abbasi, director of public relations at the Iranian president’s office, said the visit would include discussions linked to Pakistan’s mediation efforts and broader bilateral relations between the neighboring countries.

Pakistan has maintained diplomatic channels with both Iran and the United States and has periodically sought to support dialogue aimed at reducing regional tensions. The mediation role highlighted by Tehran reflects Islamabad’s efforts to position itself as a facilitator in regional diplomacy.

Neither Iranian nor Pakistani officials disclosed further details regarding the agenda of the visit, including whether new agreements or joint initiatives would be announced during Pezeshkian’s stay.

The visit takes place amid continued diplomatic activity in the region following the Switzerland talks, with governments assessing opportunities for broader engagement and stability through dialogue.

Pezeshkian’s meetings in Pakistan are expected to focus on bilateral cooperation as well as regional and international developments of mutual interest, according to Iranian state media.

The meeting at the Swiss resort of Buergenstock brought together U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Iranian officials and mediators from Qatar and Pakistan in the first diplomatic engagement since Washington and Tehran agreed a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending months of regional conflict.

The accord, reached last week, calls for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and a halt to hostilities across the region, including in Lebanon, where Israeli forces have been fighting Hezbollah since March. Iran has accused Washington of failing to ensure implementation of those commitments and said substantive negotiations would not proceed until conditions on the ground improve.

“Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble. If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder!!!” Trump said in a statement, signaling the possibility of renewed military escalation despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.

Iranian officials responded by narrowing the scope of Sunday’s discussions. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said the talks would focus only on implementation of the memorandum rather than broader issues such as Iran’s nuclear program, arguing that commitments related to Lebanon had not been fulfilled.

Baghaei said Tehran’s decision to close the Strait of Hormuz again stemmed from continued Israeli military operations in Lebanon despite a ceasefire announced on Friday. Iran’s Fars news agency cited a military source as saying no new permits were being issued for ships seeking to transit the strategic waterway.

The move has renewed concerns over global energy supplies. The strait serves as one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes, and its earlier closure during the conflict caused major disruptions to international energy markets.

U.S. officials questioned Iran’s assertion that the waterway had been fully closed. However, shipping data indicated a sharp decline in vessel movements following Tehran’s announcement, with significantly fewer tankers reported transiting the passage compared with recent days.

At the talks, Vance sought to project optimism, saying progress had been made toward reducing violence in Lebanon despite continuing instability.

“These things are always a little bit messy,” he told reporters.

Earlier on Sunday, Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir on the sidelines of the negotiations. The meeting featured cordial exchanges among the participants as diplomatic efforts continued to secure broader regional stability.

Under the memorandum, Washington and Tehran are expected to hold 60 days of negotiations covering Iran’s nuclear activities, sanctions relief and economic measures. Iran has said initial economic benefits, including sanctions waivers and access to frozen assets, must be delivered before more substantive commitments can be discussed.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed confidence that negotiations could support economic recovery and said initial progress had already enabled Tehran to regain access to part of its financial resources.

Despite diplomatic engagement, conditions in Lebanon remain fragile. Lebanese authorities reported 20 deaths from Israeli strikes on Saturday, while military teams continued clearing unexploded ordnance from southern towns. Reuters journalists observed residents returning to parts of southern Lebanon on Sunday, suggesting a tentative improvement in security conditions despite the absence of a durable ceasefire.

The negotiations represent the most significant direct diplomatic engagement between Washington and Tehran since the outbreak of hostilities earlier this year, but sharp disagreements over Lebanon and maritime access underscore the challenges facing efforts to secure a lasting regional settlement.

Speaking during a visit to India, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said an announcement could come within days as diplomatic efforts intensified.

“There is a chance that, whether it’s later today, tomorrow, in a couple days, we may have something to say,” Rubio told reporters, adding that he hoped to deliver “good news” soon.

Iranian officials also pointed to momentum in the talks. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said negotiators were working on a memorandum of understanding consisting of 14 clauses that could serve as the basis for a broader settlement.

“Our intention was first to draft a memorandum of understanding, a kind of framework agreement composed of 14 clauses,” Baqaei said on state television, while cautioning that a trend toward rapprochement did not guarantee agreement on all major issues.

Iranian officials stressed that disputes surrounding Tehran’s nuclear program would not form part of the initial framework, which is expected to focus on de-escalation measures and ending hostilities. Iranian negotiators have also said lifting the US naval blockade remains a key component of discussions.

The latest diplomatic push has been heavily supported by Pakistan, whose army chief, Asim Munir, concluded a two-day visit to Tehran after meetings with President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni.

Pakistan’s military said the meetings contributed “meaningfully” to mediation efforts and produced encouraging progress toward a final understanding.
“The discussions remained focused upon expediting the consultative process underway to support peace and stability in the region and to reach a conclusive agreement,” Pakistan’s military said in a statement following Munir’s departure.

Despite the positive signals, Iranian officials continued to warn against any return to military confrontation. Qalibaf said Iran’s armed forces had rebuilt their capabilities during the ceasefire period and would respond forcefully if hostilities resumed.

The conflict erupted after US and Israeli attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, triggering a regional crisis that disrupted shipping and energy flows through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil exports.

Araghchi, in a conversation with Antonio Guterres, said Iran remained engaged in diplomacy despite what he described as repeated military aggression and excessive demands from Washington. He also held consultations with counterparts from Turkiye, Iraq, Qatar and Oman.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump spoke by phone with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, whose office said the Qatari leader supported efforts to contain the crisis through dialogue and diplomacy.

Any agreement would mark the most significant diplomatic breakthrough since the outbreak of the conflict and could ease tensions across a region that has faced months of military escalation and economic disruption.

The discussions in Tehran came as Iran said it was reviewing Washington’s latest position on ending the conflict that erupted after joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran in February and has remained paused under a fragile ceasefire since April 8.

According to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency, Pezeshkian and Naqvi reviewed “the latest regional developments and the diplomatic consultations related to the Iran-U.S. talks,” while emphasizing continued political coordination and regional cooperation.

Naqvi conveyed the “messages and views” of Pakistani officials regarding ongoing negotiations and the importance of maintaining dialogue, IRNA reported.
Pakistan has emerged as a key intermediary since the conflict began, hosting rare direct talks between U.S. and Iranian officials last month as Islamabad intensified diplomatic outreach aimed at preventing renewed escalation in the Gulf region.

Pezeshkian praised Pakistan’s efforts to support regional stability and stressed the importance of continued coordination between Tehran and Islamabad, according to Iranian media.
The war, triggered by U.S. and Israeli strikes on Tehran in late February, disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic energy corridor that carries roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies.

Although direct fighting halted under the ceasefire agreement, negotiations have shown limited progress in recent weeks.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said military action remained an option if Tehran failed to respond positively to U.S. proposals.

“Believe me, if we don’t get the right answers, it goes very quickly. We’re all ready to go,” Trump said, according to the Associated Press.
Asked how long Washington would wait, Trump replied: “It could be a few days, but it could go very quickly.”

Trump also reiterated that the United States would not permit Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon.
“We’re in the final stages of Iran,” Trump said earlier. “Either have a deal or we’re going to do some things that are a little bit nasty.”

Iran said it was examining Washington’s latest views after submitting a new proposal this week. Iranian officials indicated the offer included demands previously rejected by Trump, including sanctions relief, compensation for war-related damage, release of frozen assets and changes linked to the Strait of Hormuz.

“We have received U.S. views and are reviewing them,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei was quoted as saying by Nour News.

The uncertainty surrounding negotiations has contributed to volatility in global energy markets and increased political pressure on Trump ahead of U.S. midterm elections later this year amid rising fuel prices.

The ceremonies, held Monday evening in several major squares across the Iranian capital, featured couples who had signed up for a so-called “self-sacrifice” initiative pledging readiness to support the country during wartime, according to Iranian state media.

More than 100 couples participated in one ceremony alone at Imam Hossein Square in central Tehran, Iranian media reported. Footage broadcast by state television showed newlyweds arriving in military jeeps equipped with mounted machine guns before taking part in marriage ceremonies led by clerics.

The events come amid heightened regional tensions following months of conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel, despite a fragile ceasefire announced in April.

Iranian authorities have promoted the “self-sacrifice” campaign, known in Persian as “janfada,” as a patriotic initiative encouraging civilians to demonstrate support for the state during wartime. State media said millions of Iranians, including senior political figures, had registered for the program.

Among those publicly associated with the initiative are Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

Images from the ceremony showed stages decorated with balloons and large portraits of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who assumed the position after the death of his father, former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, during the opening phase of the conflict earlier this year.

Participants interviewed by Iranian media described the ceremonies as both patriotic and religious occasions. One bride said young Iranians still had the right to marry despite wartime conditions, while another participant said the event coincided with the anniversary of the marriage of Imam Ali and Fatima, revered figures in Shia Islam.

Since the outbreak of the conflict in February, Iranian authorities have organized frequent public rallies and state-sponsored gatherings aimed at projecting national unity and public mobilization during the crisis.

Iran’s state-run reported that the two ministers discussed bilateral relations, including measures to facilitate border trade, transit and the exchange of goods between the neighboring countries during Naqvi’s unannounced visit to Tehran.

The meeting comes as regional tensions remain elevated following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb. 28 that prompted Iranian retaliation and restrictions around the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route carrying roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies.

A ceasefire announced on April 8 has largely held, though negotiations between Washington and Tehran have made limited progress after an initial round of direct talks in Islamabad.

IRNA said Momeni thanked Pakistan for its “friendly and brotherly stance” toward Iran and described relations between the two countries as rooted in longstanding historical ties. Iranian media reports did not directly reference Pakistan’s mediation role in the Iran-U.S. dispute.

Pakistan’s government also did not publicly disclose details of Naqvi’s visit. A Pakistani interior ministry source confirmed to Arab News earlier that the minister had arrived in Iran but declined to elaborate on the purpose of the trip.

Iran’s mehrnews separately reported Naqvi’s arrival in Tehran for consultations with senior Iranian officials.
Naqvi had accompanied Pakistan army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir during a visit to Tehran in April as Islamabad intensified diplomatic contacts with regional capitals in an effort to encourage dialogue between Tehran and Washington.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry said last month it remained engaged in efforts to reduce regional tensions. Foreign ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi told reporters in Islamabad that “the clock on diplomacy has not stopped” and that discussions aimed at preserving the peace process were continuing.

Islamabad and Tehran have simultaneously sought to expand bilateral trade through border markets and barter arrangements designed to bypass banking and currency constraints. Iran has increasingly relied on alternative trading mechanisms amid sanctions pressure and foreign exchange shortages.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian visited Pakistan in August last year, when the two countries signed agreements targeting bilateral trade growth to $10 billion by 2028.

The visit also followed remarks by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in New Delhi on Friday that distrust toward Washington remained the principal obstacle in negotiations with the United States, while indicating Iran remained open to diplomatic support from regional countries.

Tensions in Gulf energy markets have persisted despite the ceasefire, with restrictions around Hormuz and continuing U.S. measures targeting Iranian ports contributing to shipping uncertainty and oil market volatility.

Trump said he had ordered envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner not to travel to Islamabad, where mediation efforts had been centered following the arrival of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi for talks with Pakistani officials.

Speaking before departing Florida and later in comments to Fox News, Trump said the revised Iranian offer failed to meet U.S. expectations and dismissed the value of sending negotiators for extended talks.“I’ve told my people a little while ago they were getting ready to leave, and I said, ‘Nope, you’re not making an 18-hour flight to go there,’” Trump said, according to Fox News.

“We have all the cards. They can call us anytime they want.”In a post on Truth Social, Trump added that there was “tremendous infighting and confusion” within Iran’s leadership and said, “Nobody knows who is in charge, including them.”

The cancellation dealt a setback to mediation efforts in Islamabad, where Araghchi had concluded meetings with Pakistani leaders without direct contact with U.S. representatives.

Araghchi described the visit as “very fruitful,” while Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that Tehran would not accept what he called “imposed negotiations” conducted under threats or blockade.

Iran urged Washington to remove operational restrictions, including measures affecting Iranian ports, while maintaining that it would not accept maximalist demands.“Principally, Iranian side will not accept maximalist demands,” an Iranian diplomatic source in Islamabad told Reuters.

Tensions remain elevated across the region despite a ceasefire currently in force after a conflict that began on Feb. 28 with U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran. Tehran later launched retaliatory strikes against Israel, U.S. military bases and Gulf states, escalating fears of a broader regional war.

The standoff has also disrupted maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy corridor, while U.S. restrictions on Iranian oil exports remain in place, pushing energy prices to multi-year highs and adding pressure to global inflation and growth.

In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered forces to strike Hezbollah targets in Lebanon “forcefully,” testing a fragile three-week ceasefire and underscoring the broader instability surrounding the negotiations.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt had said earlier that Washington had seen some progress from Iran in recent days and hoped for further movement over the weekend.Vice President JD Vance, who led an earlier unsuccessful round of indirect talks in Islamabad this month, had also been prepared to travel again if negotiations advanced.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Iran still had an opportunity to reach an agreement if it made verifiable commitments on its nuclear program.“All they have to do is abandon a nuclear weapon in meaningful and verifiable ways,” Hegseth said.

Iran’s foreign ministry later confirmed that no direct meeting with U.S. officials had been planned during Araghchi’s visit and said Tehran would instead convey its position through Pakistan as mediator.